MIGRAINE
What are migraine headaches?
What can my doctor do about migraine?
Migraine is a common and painful headache that occurs
in up to 20% of people. There are a number of things
which can cause migraine and these differ from person to
person. Some of them you can check out yourself.
Your doctor has guidelines for the most up to date
management of migraine, based on scientific evidence of
the most effective and safe treatments. The aim is for you
to treat your migraine at the first sign to prevent it from
becoming worse. You and your doctor need to work
together to achieve this.
Treatment will differ according to the person and your
doctor can explain what treatment is available to you.
There are also some things you can do to help yourself.
It is important for you to seek you doctor’s advice about
the most appropriate medicine and what dose is best for
you. You may also need a medicine to prevent nausea
which your doctor can prescribe for you.
What can I do about my migraine?
There are some things you can do to help prevent or
reduce the pain of migraine. To do this you should be
aware of:
what you
can do
• trigger factors: are your migraines triggered off by
certain things, such as a reaction to particular foods,
alcohol, exposure to stress, glare, changes in the
weather, menstruation or physical activities? If you
can identify the trigger factors you can then plan
how to deal with them.
• early detection: learn to recognise the warning signs of
a migraine headache, such as an aura (being aware of
a strange feeling or smell), a craving for sweets, food or
drink, problems with your vision, or a feeling of nausea.
• early treatment: as soon as you are aware of the signs
of an attack immediately try to relieve it by lying down
in a dark room, relaxing, using cold or hot compresses,
or any other thing that you have discovered helps to
reduce the pain or extent of the headache. Your doctor
can recommend what medicines you can take at the first
sign of a migraine headache.
In the past pethidine injections were sometimes given
to relieve pain but now research has shown that this
drug should not be used in the treatment of migraine.
The reason is that there is a risk of dependence because
it is an addictive drug, it can also make any nausea worse
and it only works for a short time so additional medicine
is necessary.
You and your doctor together can find the medicine which
works best for you.
Date, day &
time migraine
began
Length of
migraine
- in hours
How serious
was it*
Possible trigger
factors*
Warning signs*
Other problems
with the
migraine*
Medicines
taken*
* e.g. could do
normal activities
or had to go to
bed
*e.g. certain
foods, drink, glare,
stress, weather,
menstruation or
activities
*e.g. aura,
strange sensation,
sensitivity to smell,
noise, light or
craving
*e.g. nausea,
vomiting, visual
disturbances,etc.
* it is important to
list all medicine
taken - for possible
interaction
My pain diary
Discuss with your doctor whether keeping a pain diary will
help you both to understand the causes, prevention and
treatment that is most helpful for you. By filling in the
above diary on each occasion you get a migraine,
you may see a pattern emerge that will assist you in
avoiding or relieving the headaches.
How well did
the medicine
help
Any side
effects of the
medicine*
What else
relieved the
migraine*
*e.g. rash,
vomiting, nausea,
constipation
e.g. lying down in
the dark or using
hot or cold
compresses, etc.
NSW
THERAPEUTIC
ASSESSMENT
GROUP
This pamphlet has been prepared by the NSW Therapeutic Assessment
Group Inc to accompany the treatment guidelines prepared with a grant
from the Pharmaceutical Services Branch of NSW Health.